Summary: Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is) evil and He Himself tempts no one.

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is) evil and He Himself tempts no one.

But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. James 1:13-15 AMP

Single people sometimes express the difficulty of keeping themselves pure. (See the following prayers on purity) Some have asked: "Doesn’t God understand that we are only human? Why did He create us with desires; surely He understands and excuses us when we fall into temptation? If He wants me to avoid sexual temptation, then why doesn’t He send me the spouse I have asked Him to give me?"

The Scriptures condemn pre-marital sex, fornica-tion, adultery; and all forms of sexual perversion. (Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:21 AMP; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5,6.) Although sexual desires are not a sin, if not properly controlled, those desires can lead to sin.

According to James 1:13-15, sin begins with a thought conceived from lust. Lust is not limited to sex. It is possible to lust after many things that can cause sin. That’s why it is so important to take control over the mind and heart to keep them pure and holy - in spite of temptation.

One of the myths that has ensnared many single people is the mistaken idea that marriage will automati-cally release them from the temptation to sin. Without repentance and the renewing of the mind, those who have a problem with lustful thoughts before they are married will have the same problem after they are married, just as those who have a problem with sexual perversion before marriage will continue to have the same problem after marriage.

One married man shared his testimony of deliver-ance from pornography. He was having to continually guard himself from mental images that kept reappearing.

Marriage is not a cure-all for sexual sins or any other sin.

Yes, God does understand. With every temptation He has provided a way of escape. (1 Cor. 10:13.)

Yes, there is forgiveness for sin (1 John 1:9) -through God’s abounding grace. (Rom. 5:20.) The ques-tion is: ..Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? (Rom. 6:1,2 AMP.)

We who are in Christ desire to bring glory to the Father. We cannot do so in our own strength. It is remaining, abiding in union with Jesus that ensures answered prayer, of loving as Jesus loves. (John 15:7-9.) If our prayers are not being answered, it is time to check our love walk We must ask ourselves, "Are we keepingourselves in the love of God - remaining vitally united with Jesus?"

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] prac-tice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]. 1John 5:18 AMP